World Cup Cocktail

The ICC has fined Shane Watson and Wahab Riaz for their epic quarter-final battle, but has denied accusations of being the fun police and say it has no issue with the show-stopping spell that had the cricket world buzzing.

After issuing a tweet announcing both players would be charged under the game's code of conduct, it took the ICC over 14 hours to finally announce what the two stars had been penalised for.

Wahab got in Watson's face time after time, clapping, blowing kisses and verballing, and Australia were privately scratching their heads over how the Australian No.5 had been fined at all, so one way was the intimidatory tirade.

But the ICC says the fine came not when Australia was on the ropes at 3-59, but in the 33rd over when the hosts needed only 21 more to win.

Watson couldn't help himself give some back to Wahab, and who can blame him.

Officials say Watson ignored the umpire's advice and had a chip at Wahab, obviously satisfied he'd weathered one of the most ferocious spells of fast bowling witnessed in recent years.

Wahab then fired back with an expletive laden attack, and that's where the fines have come from.

Watson was docked 15 per cent of his match fee and Wahab a whopping half.

Post-match, Wahab revealed the sledge from Watson that sent him into a frenzy.

While batting himself at the end of the Pakistan innings, Wahab was asked by Watson "Is that a bat you're holding?"

The pair shook hands and embraced at the end of the game.

Pakistan's crazy theory

The Pakistan media is awash with theories as to why their national team did not advance beyond the quarter-finals and Omar R Quraishi, writing in the Tribune, was no exception.

In listing ten reasons why Pakistan lost to Australia, Quraishi ventured the opinion that vanity may have played a role.

"If members of the Pakistan team devoted a fraction of the effort that they spend on taking selfies on their batting and fielding, we could have perhaps won," Quraishi wrote.

Angry fans in the city of Multan staged a mock funeral for the death of Pakistan cricket.

Televisions were smashed and cricket equipment was burnt, the Gulf Times reported.

"The quarter-final, which began at 8am local time, was followed nervously by millions in the country with special screenings in public parks, schools, restaurants and hotels on a normal working day," The Times reported.

"'Bangladesh can claim they were done in by poor umpiring but what excuse can the Pakistan team give expect they played rank bad cricket and couldn't handle the pressure,' fan Munazza Jillani said at a school for special children in Karachi."

Simmons named as new Windies coach

Former international Phil Simmons was named the new head coach of the West Indies on Friday. The 51-year-old signed a three-year deal with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and will take up his new role after the World Cup.

Simmons coached Ireland at the World Cup and during his eight-year spell he took the non-Test playing nation to three World Cups and four World Twenty20 appearances.     --Compiled